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CMDR
Martin Linsley and FLTLT Nick Grey give their all to win
the individual ADFSA Tasar Championship.
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AIR FORCE sailors have beaten Navy in the ADF Sailing Association
(ADFSA) Interservice Teams Racing event at the ADFSA Tasar Championships.
The championships were held in association with the 2004 NSW Tasar
Championship, at Lake Macquarie from April 8-12. Air Force defeated
Navy in the teams’ event.
The success of Corporal Ross McDonald, the Air Force representative
with the ADFSA, and Sergeant Mick Campbell in Stormbringer is
even more creditable as they were the only Air Force crew – and
the only Air Force boat.
The seven races had Navy Tasars frequently beating Stormbringer
on an individual basis in both the scratch and handicap results,
but the Air Force boat consistently finished around the top 10
to take the points.
Despite being sailed in lighter winds, the teams enjoyed intense
and exciting competition. Short start lines and courses made it
important to gain a favourable starting position. The Air Force
pair had to show good boat handling, teamwork and communication
to achieve a winning combination.
In the ADFSA Tasar Championship, Flight Lieutenant Nick Grey and
ADFSA president Commander Martin Linsley won the individual title.
ADF boats finished 7th, 8th, 32nd, 44th, and 48th in the NSW event.
The top seven places were all decided on the outcome of the last
race and this also highlighted the competitiveness of the events.
The courses were several miles long, so a solid grasp of racing
tactics, good teamwork, good boat speed and physical condition
proved vital for success.
Getting a good start was imperative to finish in the top 10 and
this meant some cunning seamanship around the start boat to ensure
a clean start.
The shifting and variable winds meant there were plenty of opportunities
to make big gains or losses on the water by picking the shifts
and the preferred side of the course.
